Black Sheep

what I did over the weekend

I knitted and knitted and knitted this weekend. I worked on everything a little bit.

I told you that I casted on the Chai pullover on Friday. This is how far I have gotten over the weekend. I’m just starting the increases. I love this yarn. It’s a dream to knit with. So soft and silky. I can’t wait to wear this sweater.

I’ve also been working on my recycled silk afghan. I’m about halfway done and I’ve knitted through all of the recycled silk that I have. So Earl has been reincarnated as my recycled silk throw. I’ve combined it with various balls of leftover mohair. First I used what was left of the Wool in the Woods mohair I usded on To Dye For. Then I used some really fuzzy mohair that I used on my blue cardi, and then I added the light blue mohair that I bought at Comunknity friday. I’m taking a break on this until the silk that I ordered from The Wool Peddler has arrived. I’m still not sure if this is pretty or hideous. Maybe recycled silk is one of those fads that seems really gorgeous at the time, but in twenty years it will show up on Stitchy McYarnpant’s museum of kitsy stitches . Regardless of how it looks, it is sooooo soft and cuddly. And I suppose that’s all that matters.

I worked a couple more lace repeats on Lucky Clover this weekend, too. And I have a picture to prove it! I almost forgot where I was on this because I had set it aside for so long. I will kind of be glad to get this sweater done. Mostly because it’s cute and I’m dying to wear it. But it’s also kind of annoying me because there is so much to keep track of. I think if I work on it a little bit every day it will help, though. No more putting it aside.

So all weekend I’ve been obsessing over a couple of projects. I’m dying to knit the Chevron Rib Tank from IK, and I’m also kind of obsessing over the Sheer One Piece Shawl from ArtYarns (knit in that pink and green supermerino that I got friday). I know I shouldn’t buy more yarn. I really can’t. I’ve firmly decided NOT to use my credit cards so that I can pay them off, AND I’m trying to save some money. But I really, really want to make these things, see? (I know you have ALL been there). So this morning I talked myself into buying them. I just said, “fuck it. why not?” so I went to Webs first to buy the supermerino and pattern for the shawl. I had the stuff in my shopping cart, had put in my shipping address, was getting ready to type my credit card number in when my lovely husband gets up from his computer and begins walking over to me, talking to me about linux or something that I don’t understand…He bends down to give me a hug and, while it’s very sweet, all I could think was, “crap! he’s going to see my computer screen and credit card sitting in plain view!” And he did. He ended up talking me out of it, of course. drats. I felt so guilty, like I was caught falling off the wagon or something. Damn, maybe I was…

Hello, my name is Monica and I’m a yarnaholic…

8 comments May 1st, 2005

BBBB=Done

We have another FO, folks! Woot!
Pattern: Big Bad Baby Blanket from Stitch-n-Bitch, the knitter’s Handbook by Debbie Stoller. Designer, Lisa Shobhana Mason.
Yarn: Plymouth Encore Colorspun. About 2.5 balls.
Needles: Denise interchangables size 8
Finished: April 28, 2005

I’m so glad to be done with this blanket! It got a little bit dull toward the end. The baby shower is a week from tommorrow. I hope my SIL likes it.

Now it’s on to other things. For some reason, I felt I needed to dig what was left of Earl out of it’s grave. So I spent some time unraveling and pretty much frogged the whole thing. As I mentioned in my last post, I am going to knit the recyled silk with what I have left of the mohair from my last project. I decided that I am going to make a recycled silk throw. I don’t know what else to do with it. I have mixed feelings about this yarn. I like how colorful it is. And, depending on the brand you get, it can be really soft. But the two hanks I got at stitches have bits of metal and wood in them, making them impossible for garments. Plus, I don’t like the garments I’ve seen made with this stuff, personally. But I think a throw would work for me because, in home decor, I am drawn to these really bright colors. Knitting it up with the Wool in the Woods mohair makes the fabric really nice and cuddly soft, so I think it’s going to be a keeper. Plus I can just buy the recycled silk as I run out and not worry about dye lots and whatnot. The “charm” of this yarn is that no two hanks are alike. (apologies for the horrible picture)

Yesterday I received my order of Endless Summer Collection Sonata from Elann. I am going to use it to knit the Vintage Camisole pattern you see in the picture. I decided that I had to have one of these after seeing Lauren’s cute version! I love it! I can’t believe how inexpensive this yarn was! I heart Elann. I WILL NOT start this until I finish Lucky Clover AND/OR my Chai pullover, which I casted on for this morning. I took a pic but the picture is far too crappy to post, so next time.

I’m feeling really weird today. I had a really difficult time getting out of bed this morning, first of all. That’s never good. Then I went out to go for my run, was a couple of blocks into it, and decided I didn’t feel like running today so I turned around and went back home. I was running and just felt like my body hurt, you know? Like I needed a day to rest..I’ve been kind of crabby all morning. I can’t even stand being around *myself*. Don’t you hate that? Even pulling out of my driveway was this big ordeal. I almost hit a runner who was crossing my path and then this car just stops in the middle of the road , thinking I’m going to pull out in front of him. I didn’t, and I wasn’t going to, you see. The way my driveway is set up, you cant see anything unless you pull up really close to the road. So this driver is stopped there, and we are looking at each other, and he is in his car yelling something for, like, at least a minute. I’m just sitting there staring at him with this dumbfounded look on my face because I can’t figure out why in the hell he stopped and why he isn’t just continuing on his way since it’s obvious I’m not pulling out in front of him. He finally went on his way after chewing me out (thank goddesss I couldn’t hear him because It probably would have pissed me off, whatever he said).

So that’s kind of how my day has been so far. Hmmm, maybe I need to go on a yarn run durning lunch? I hear ComuKNITy is opening it’s doors today….I think that might just do the trick.

update:I went to Communknity at lunch an lookie at what I gottie:

We got here a couple o hanks of Artyarns Supermerino in a pink and green colorway and a ball of crystal palace kid merino. I’m so glad I went over there! If any of you come to San Jose, you have got to go to this shop. I swear to God, I think it’s the most gorgeous yarn store I’ve ever been in. The decor is so beautiful! And the yarn selection is really good, too.

Now, what do I do with 2 skiens of supermerino? I’m tempted to buy 3 more skeins and make this. hmmmm.

9 comments April 29th, 2005

Manic Knitting

Good God! that was a hella fast knit. I knit up the sleeves on Saturday alone! I love that! It’s blocking at the moment but I will probably wear it tommorrow to work so I will have my hubby take a picture and I will post a modeling shot and specs tommorrow or Wednesday. Or Thursday. I have to go out and buy a black tank today to wear under it (I love a good excuse to shop).

So I have almost whole ball of mohair left. I think I am going to incorporate it into something knit with my recycled silk yarn, since that seems the thing to do. So this mass of yarn here in this pic will become something, but I’m not sure what yet. I’ll let you know when I figure it out.

BBBB is coming along, but no pics. I might even finish it in the next few days! I will be glad to be done with that project. It’s a little bit dull and the pressure of getting it done before the shower is, of course, turning my attention to other things.

I so need to get back to Lucky Clover. The lucky clover KAL has it’s first finisher, Winnie from Guavaseeds has made one in pink. Check it out! It looks so cute on her!

I found an interesting article via Lori. Somebody wanted to get an idea of who was using Bloglines based on the way they organize thier feeds, so they downloaded all of the feeds of everyone who has public profiles and began crunching the numbers. What did he find out? That bloglines users like to knit! LOL! I bet that guy didn’t see that coming .

9 comments April 25th, 2005

LTKAction

I spent the weekend, whilst waiting for yarn to arrive, working on LTKA. I finished the lace square that had been languishing in my basket for months, and then I whipped up a couple more squares. I don’t want this thing to be never-ending. I want to get it done at some point. So without further blathering, here are the three squares:

The one on the left is square #4, “Lattice with seed stitch.” The one in the middle is square #5, “Diagonal Ribbing.” The square on the right is square 52, “Lace Diamonds.” There. Done with that for awhile. I still have a ways to go on this, but I’m just that much closer now .

I spent some time blocking the squares that I have finished as per the instructions in the book. You use the first square, the garter stitch square, as the “mold” for the rest of them. I pinned some bright pink yarn around square #1 to the fabric of my ironing board. This will be used as a guide for the rest of them to steam block into shape. I have to say that this steam blocking thing works like magic! It’s like the yarn morphed into shape… It really made a huge difference on the lace pieces. So I highly recommend, of you are doing this project, to block.

I got my Sierra Quatro today from Hello Knitty! Wow! I think it’s really a pretty yarn. It’s also really soft. I guess this means I will begin Gail’s Clapotis tonight. So stay tuned for some more Clap action!

Oh, and one more thing…My husband’s brother called last night to tell us that he and his wife are having a baby! I am so incredibly happy for them! So this means that there will be some baby things added to my upcoming knits . I’ve had a hankering to knit baby things so this will be fun.

3 comments January 18th, 2005

Square 52 and Alpaca cake

Here is square 52:

If it looks a little messed up that’s because it is. this one was a bitch to knit. I kept accidentally adding stitches and messing up the pattern. I was sooo happy when I was done with it.

I am going to start my alpaca shawl this weekend, I think. So here is the “before”picture:

I *love* this yarn. It is hand spun and hand dyed, and it is sooo soft.

August 14th, 2004